Multiple-copying machine.



1. JLFLANIGAN, MULTIPLE COPYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I7, 1918.

Patented July 16, 1918.

LfOfin Jzi iarzgan rm JOHN J. FLANIGAN, or cmcaeo, ILLINOIS, Assmnon TOnurmca'ron manurac- TUBING COMPANY, or cmcacomnmors, A conronarron orwnsr vmom'm.

mumrem-corrme Macrame.

Specification of Letters Patent. v

Patented Jui ie, 1918.

Application filed April 17, 1918. Serial No; 229,009.

ful Improvements in Multiple-Copying Machines, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to multiple copying machines of the general typeshown in Letters Patent heretofore anted to me 1,118,119, dated Nov.24,1914 and 1,141,702,

dated June 1, 1915.

Machines of this type employ a Hat horizontal rinting bed supported onthe machine ame, a platen frame or carriage carrying paper gripping andplaten rollers adapted to travel lengthwise over the printing bed, aguide rod mounted on one side of and parallel with the'machine frame,and a hinge extension of one end of the platen frame that slidably androtatably engages said guide rod so as to maintain the platen frame orcarriage always in correct relation to the printing ed. 4

Heretofore the hinge extension of the platen frame has been madeintegral or rigid with the latter, and this has necessitated therovision of means for effecting vertical adustments of the ends of theguide rod in order to insure a perfect engagement of the platen rollerwith the master sheet or copy sheet on the bed during the printingoperation, since obviously if the guide rod is even slightly out ofperfect arallelism with the printing surface, the p aten roll would beslightly tilted endwise and would not engage the full width of theprinting bed with uniform pressure.

The purpose or object of my present improvement is to provide aconstruction which shall insure a more rfect and uniform rollingengagement 0 platen roller with the surface of the rinting bed than hasheretofore been possible to attain in machines such as those disclosedin my former patents .above identified. Another object is to provide aconstruction which shall dispense with the necessity of providingadjustments for the guide rod of the platen frame.

With these objects in view, my present invention consists, generallystated, in providing a hinge extension of the platen frame to engage theguide rod as heretofore, which hinge extension, instead of being rigidwith thereto.

the platen frame, is looselyarticulated thereto in such a manner as toafford to the platen frame a limited degree of automatic adjustment tothe surface of the printing bed inde-, pendently of the hinge extension}The manner in which, and the means by which,,this

improvement is efiected are illustrated, in

one practical embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawing,in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the forward end. portion of amultiple copying machine having m present improvement appliedfragmentary views similar .to Fig. 2, but illustrating slightly raisedand lowered positions of the platen frame relatively to its hingeextension as compared with Fig. 2; and I Fig. 5 is a sectional detail onthe line 5-5 of Pi 2.

Re erring to the drawing, 10 designates as an entirety. the machineframe which supports the bed 10 carrying the usual gelatin duplicating.band or apron 11, on which in the use of the machine, master sheets andcopy sheets such as indicated at 12 are rolled out by an impressiondevice consisting of a platen frame or carriage 13 carrying suitablepaper gripping and platen rollers, a detailed specifications ofmy formerpatents above identified.

' 14 designates the guide rod for the platen frame which is rigidlymounted at its endswith the guide rod 14, and constitutes a hinge-likeextension of one end of the platen frame 13. Instead of making thishinge extension rigid with the platen frame, as heretofore, I connectthe two by a loose joint that allows a limited relative verticalmovement between them. To this end one end member 13 of the platen framehas formed on its outer face hinge lugs 17, and the member 16 islikewise provided with laterally extending hinge lugs 18 lying alongside of the hinge lugs 17. Through the mating hinge lugs 17 and 18 arepassed pivot pins or pintles 19; and it will be observed, by refig. 2 isa vertical section as seen on the linea22 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are 785 description of which will be found in the surface of the printing bedis not at allv points exactly parallel to the guide rod 15,

this is automatically compensated for by the loose joint between theplaten frame and its hinge extension which allows the platen frame toaccurately follow and unlformly engage the printing bed independently ofthe hinge extension 16, while being guided and otherwise controlled bythe latter. It will be evident that this construction does away with thenecessity of vertical adjustmg means for the ends of the guide rod 14,

and, further that it automatically takes care of and compensates for anyslight variation 7 from a perfectly flat form of printing bed.

The herein described improvement also prevents imperfect operation fromother fcauses and conditions which arise in the practical operation ofmachines ofthis type, such as an increase in the diameter of the platenroller from accumulations of dirt, and variations in the thickness ofthe gelatin copying band or apron resulting from absorption of moisture.

It is belleved that the nature, purpose and advantages of this inventionwill be readily understood by those skilled in the art from theforegoing description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawing.Manifestly, the results and advantages of the invention are notdependent upon the precise details of the embodiment thereof hereinshown and described, and hence I- frame carrying a printing-bed, and aguiderod extending lengthwise of said frame and bed, of a platen framemovable over said bed, and a hinge extension of said platen frameengaging said rod with capacity for both sliding and turning movementsthereon, said extension being loosely articulated to said platen frameto permit alimited vertical play of the latter relatively to. thehorizontal plane of said guide-rod.

3. In a multiple copying machine of the character described, thecombination with a frame carrying a printing-bed, and a guiderod rigidlysupported on and extending lengthwise of one side of saidframe, of aplaten frame movable oversaid bed,;and a hinge extension of said platenframe engaging said rod with capacity for both sliding and turningmovements thereon, said platen frame and hinge extension havingpivotally jointed parts respectively provided with slightly separatedopposed faces permitting a limited relative angular movement of saidplaten frame and hinge extension.

JOHN J. FLANIGAN

